A prominent civil society coalition, the Democratic Integrity Watch (DIW), has raised alarm over what it describes as a deliberate and coordinated campaign by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration to erode Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and entrench a one-party state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, DIW accused the presidency of employing blackmail, financial inducement, and institutional coercion to force opposition lawmakers, governors, and stakeholders into aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The group claims this alleged strategy threatens the constitutional foundation of political pluralism and undermines public confidence in democratic governance.
"What we are witnessing is a systematic dismantling of opposition voices through intimidation, bribery, and abuse of power. President Tinubu’s administration is leveraging state resources and security institutions to silence dissent and co-opt political actors under duress," said DIW spokesperson Amina Okonkwo.
According to the group, recent defections of key opposition figures to the APC were not driven by ideological realignment but rather coercive pressure, including threats of politically motivated investigations and withdrawal of federal support.
The group also criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what it alleges is complicity and selective enforcement, urging international observers and democratic institutions to closely monitor developments in Nigeria.
DIW called for an immediate investigation by the National Assembly and urged political stakeholders, civil society, and citizens to resist what it termed a “creeping authoritarianism masquerading as party politics.”